EDC hopes to sell 2 Charleston parcels to private developers

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - CHARLESTON - Six years ago or so, most of the land along Veterans Road was filled with trees, not traffic.

Today, it's just the opposite: You can't avoid the parking lots, cars and gigantic stores. And more changes are promised.

The city Economic Development Corp. is selling two 10-acre parcels in the area for retail development. Money from the sale would lead to an Environmental Impact Statement and the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure for the project, the Advance reported last week.

A request for proposals (RFP) was issued last week for the two parcels.

Ben Margolis, EDC's vice president of development, expects the RFP to get regional attention and bring in names that will be a good fit alongside the Bricktown Center – home to Bed Bath & Beyond, Christmas Tree Shops, Home Depot and Applebee's – and the South Shore Commons retail outlet.

"We've worked to review the site plan and we're bringing what we think is very good news to Staten Island," Margolis told the Advance Editorial Board last week.

Fairview Park, senior housing, a library and a public school, along with traffic fixes to Englewood Avenue, are expected to be part of the development.

Deciding what belongs on an undeveloped plot of city land could be difficult, considering the many ideas that will likely pop up, but to those with no ties to the future 60-acre plot of land next to Bricktown Center (or Target Shopping Center) in Charleston, it's a piece of cake.

"There's so much new stuff out here," said Susan Smith, a Tottenville resident reflecting on the drastic changes on the South Shore in the last several years.

She would like to see another store, one similar to Target, but not Walmart.

"Once they come, they'll take out everything else," she said of the large discount department store that's itching to work its way into New York City.

Pausing to debate what would be good for the neighborhood, Ms. Smith also hit upon a movie theater.

"That would be fantastic for the kids around here," she said.

Sherri Markowitz, of Huguenot, thinks a Bloomingdale's would be nice, or something similar to a department store of its type.

Other suggestions from the South Shore resident included the Olive Garden restaurant.

She was happy that a Trader Joe's is set to open on Staten Island this spring. It will be located on Richmond Avenue in New Springville.

She hopes for "something new" for the Island.

When asked, Pleasant Plains resident Lenny S. lacked an answer: "We pretty much have all that stuff, no? It's very rare that I have to go into New Jersey for anything."

A resident of the borough for the last 20 years, he doesn't want a store. He'd prefer less people and more roads.

John Hogan, joined by his wife Celide, of Grymes Hill, were making a quick stop at Target. The pair rarely visits the South Shore, and if they do, they're moving through it toward New Jersey.

Mrs. Hogan said she'd definitely want an upscale department store on Staten Island, such as Nordstrom or Lord & Taylor, both of which aren't too far away in the Garden State.

"Everyone always went to Jersey to shop. That's just the history of Staten Island shopping," Mrs. Hogan said.

Both Hogans gave a thumbs-down to a chain restaurant before offering one last suggestion: Saks Fifth Avenue.

"But it's not going to happen," said Hogan, a lifelong Islander.

One man wandering through Target said that a good, Southwestern-style restaurant could make a nice addition. His daughter recommended any place that sold Uggs.

Meanwhile, Alan Fleischman, also of Tottenville, said it didn't matter much to him. He works in New Jersey, so purchasing gas and other items off-Island is common.

Though she admitted a movie theater would "probably be best," Staten Island has enough here, said one Tottenville resident who only gave her name as Debbie.

"I remember when this was all woods. It's not what it used to be in this area," she explained.

"The site has been successful, not only because it is strategic for Staten Islanders to get to, but because it also draws people from New Jersey," Margolis said, referencing the other shopping in the area, and hoping for a repeat.